The 2006-2007 Archive is currently being updated. New dates will be added as they become available.
VegDRI Highlights for June 29, 2009
Western States
In the past two weeks, widespread and above normal rain once again fell over the western states. This beneficial precipitation eased the abnormal dryness to moderate drought conditions in southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, northeastern Nevada, western Colorado, and Wyoming. However, due to the long-term lack of rain and high temperatures, moderate to severe drought persisted over Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana.
Great Plains
The spring growing season continued in most areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, southwest Nebraska, eastern Colorado and Kansas. Because most of the beneficial rains fell south and east of the drought-affected areas, abnormal dryness and vegetation stress over South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, and north central Kansas. In addition, drier conditions persisted over southern Oklahoma and north Texas, and moderate to severe drought persisted over central and southern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.
Midwest
Normal conditions prevailed across Minnesota, Michigan, northern Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Vegetation cover was nearly normal. But northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula remained in drought.
Northeast
Wide spread rain fell over most areas of the mid-Atlantic to ease the drought. This moderate to heavy rains over the northeastern states increased soil moisture, resulting in better conditions for vegetation growth. But in southern New York and adjoin New Jersey, central Pennsylvania, and eastern Virginia, VegDRI showed pre-drought conditions due to a long-term deficit of soil moisture.
Southeast
Most areas of North and South Carolina did not get enough rain to ease the drier than normal condition that persisted in the past few months. Southern Louisiana, some of Mississippi, and a few areas of Alabama were also drier than normal due to long-term lack of rain. Vegetation was under stress in many areas of these states.
Because of the widespread rain and storms, drought improved over most of the Florida peninsula. However, due to long-term abnormally dry and hot conditions, drought persisted over some of south Florida.
The National Drought Mitigation Center produces VegDRI in collaboration with the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), and the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC), with sponsorship from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). Main researchers working on VegDRI are Dr. Brian Wardlow and Dr. Tsegaye Tadesse at the NDMC, and Jesslyn Brown with the USGS, and Dr. Yingxin Gu with ASRC Research and Technology Solutions, contractor for the USGS at EROS.
VegDRI maps are produced every two weeks and provide regional to sub-county scale information about drought's effects on vegetation. In 2006, VegDRI covered seven states in the Northern Great Plains (CO, KS, MT, NE, ND, SD, and WY). It expanded across eight more states in 2007 to cover the rest of the Great Plains (NM, OK, MO, and TX) and parts of the Upper Midwest (IA, IL, MN, and WI). VegDRI expanded to include the western U.S. in 2008 (WA, ID, OR, UT, CA, AZ, NV). In May 2009 VegDRI began depicting the eastern states as well, covering the entire conterminous 48-state area.
The VegDRI calculations integrate satellite-based observations of vegetation conditions, climate data, and other biophysical information such as land cover/land use type, soil characteristics, and ecological setting. The VegDRI maps that are produced deliver continuous geographic coverage over large areas, and have inherently finer spatial detail (1-km2 resolution) than other commonly available drought indicators such as the U.S. Drought Monitor.
VegDRI Highlights for June 29, 2009
Western States
In the past two weeks, widespread and above normal rain once again fell over the western states. This beneficial precipitation eased the abnormal dryness to moderate drought conditions in southeastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, northeastern Nevada, western Colorado, and Wyoming. However, due to the long-term lack of rain and high temperatures, moderate to severe drought persisted over Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana.
Great Plains
The spring growing season continued in most areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, southwest Nebraska, eastern Colorado and Kansas. Because most of the beneficial rains fell south and east of the drought-affected areas, abnormal dryness and vegetation stress over South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, and north central Kansas. In addition, drier conditions persisted over southern Oklahoma and north Texas, and moderate to severe drought persisted over central and southern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico.
Midwest
Normal conditions prevailed across Minnesota, Michigan, northern Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. Vegetation cover was nearly normal. But northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula remained in drought.
Northeast
Wide spread rain fell over most areas of the mid-Atlantic to ease the drought. This moderate to heavy rains over the northeastern states increased soil moisture, resulting in better conditions for vegetation growth. But in southern New York and adjoin New Jersey, central Pennsylvania, and eastern Virginia, VegDRI showed pre-drought conditions due to a long-term deficit of soil moisture.
Southeast
Most areas of North and South Carolina did not get enough rain to ease the drier than normal condition that persisted in the past few months. Southern Louisiana, some of Mississippi, and a few areas of Alabama were also drier than normal due to long-term lack of rain. Vegetation was under stress in many areas of these states.
Because of the widespread rain and storms, drought improved over most of the Florida peninsula. However, due to long-term abnormally dry and hot conditions, drought persisted over some of south Florida.
The National Drought Mitigation Center produces VegDRI in collaboration with the US Geological Survey's (USGS) Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS), and the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC), with sponsorship from the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). Main researchers working on VegDRI are Dr. Brian Wardlow and Dr. Tsegaye Tadesse at the NDMC, and Jesslyn Brown with the USGS, and Dr. Yingxin Gu with ASRC Research and Technology Solutions, contractor for the USGS at EROS.
VegDRI maps are produced every two weeks and provide regional to sub-county scale information about drought's effects on vegetation. In 2006, VegDRI covered seven states in the Northern Great Plains (CO, KS, MT, NE, ND, SD, and WY). It expanded across eight more states in 2007 to cover the rest of the Great Plains (NM, OK, MO, and TX) and parts of the Upper Midwest (IA, IL, MN, and WI). VegDRI expanded to include the western U.S. in 2008 (WA, ID, OR, UT, CA, AZ, NV). In May 2009 VegDRI began depicting the eastern states as well, covering the entire conterminous 48-state area.
The VegDRI calculations integrate satellite-based observations of vegetation conditions, climate data, and other biophysical information such as land cover/land use type, soil characteristics, and ecological setting. The VegDRI maps that are produced deliver continuous geographic coverage over large areas, and have inherently finer spatial detail (1-km2 resolution) than other commonly available drought indicators such as the U.S. Drought Monitor.